image via Design Sponge no, this is not my closet or my bathroom. bummer.
In fact, I have been putting off even hanging hooks in there since we moved in. Why? Because I have a sickness. I think I need to paint the closet first, map out where everything will go, have custom shelves, hang beautiful hooks, put lovely baskets on the shelves — basically make it all charming AND organized. Because I'm insane. And, I have 5,000 other projects waiting in line before my closet, so that means my closet was going to stay the way it was, nonfunctional and not pretty, for probably another year.
But, I promised Simple Mom I'd follow along with her challenge this week. And she said to work on my closet. She didn't say to make it beautiful or ready for a magazine. She said SIMPLIFY.
BINGO! That is what I needed. The What Not To Do List. I needed to lower my expectations. But I didn't need to lower them to doing NOTHING. I needed to stop worrying about everything I should do, could do, would be nice to do, and just pick ONE project in the closet in order to make PROGRESS in having a more functional closet. It doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing! DOH!
So today I decided to just tackle ONE project in my closet. Just one thing that would simplify my life.
It wasn't about making it beautiful. It wasn't about the amazing AFTER photo. It was about making something better than it was.
So what if I can't paint this closet yet? So what if I can't have custom shelves and a ladder put in my bathroom? I can at least get my SCARVES and BELTS off the dresser top and floor, right? Sheesh. Of course I can.
Closet Wall. BEFORE. Yes, those are random cedar planks.
So I looked around for a way to hang them easily. I happened to have a curved iron towel rod that I've been saving for use somewhere. I've been waiting for the perfect spot to use it for like 7 years. It just sits there doing NOTHING. Year after year. So why not let it be a scarf hanger? Ha. Finally, I'm putting this to use!!
The only available wall had a wonky electrical panel thing that I couldn't cover up, so hanging the rod above it did the trick.
I know the rod looks crooked (it isn't), and so not staged fancy or magazine cover-ish, but you get the idea.
It took me about five minutes to hang it and tie the scarves on. I set a mirror on the floor of the space to solve the problem of having no mirror to see our lower half.
Two problems solved in five minutes. What was I waiting for again? Oh yeah. Beautiful? Charming? Oh well. Maybe next year.
What holds you back in making progress on projects?
Are you an all or nothing girl?
PS. My friend Krista Colvin has a great online resource for organizing your closet! She is awesome! Thanks Krista!
Melissa, I have a confession to make. I lied to you. In a previous comment, I told you I was going to check out Tsh's site pronto. I didn't check it out until just now. I know, I'm a terrible person. However, you have inspired me, and I'm going to try to get on the organization bandwagon. I laughed when she wrote about the 10 items she always wears. I swear, I have an outfit that I call my "uniform." I always seem to see the same one of my friends every time I'm wearing said "uniform." I think she believes I have no other clothes :) Thanks for the inspiration. I'm tackling my closet this weekend!
I tackled our master closet just a few weeks ago and have almost broken my arm patting myself on the back each time I open the door! Such a little thing to be so excited about :) but seriously, I only bought two small shelves. The rest was simply cleaning, throwing out, and giving away. $2 batches of black hangers from Target, items hung neatly, folded neated on shelves. What a difference. I'm lovin' it!
Oh my closet needs this…it's probably the most overlooked "room" in my house and it's driving me bonkers. Maybe I'll tackle a small closet project this weekend. Any progress is bound to be better than none at all.
Good for you! I suffer from Perfection Paralysis all the time. When I finally allow myself to do just a little bit, I am always so surprised to find out how much better "Good Enough" is!
Oh, that is totally what I have. Perfection Paralysis. I'd rather do nothing than not do it well enough. Got to get over that. And look at me today?!!! So not awesome, but it WORKS! YES!!!
I suffer from this WAY more than I'm willing to admit… can we start a group or something?
I think I would definitely need to join that group. Save a spot for me. I'm going to do something closet-wise tomorrow I think! wish me luck!
I could totally relate to needing to have the total plan before doing anything and you're right, it holds me back from doing anything at all! You are so right! How come it makes more sense coming from some one else's thoughts than my own?! Thanks for the motivation to finally work on the closet.
That top picture reminded me of being a kid….my dad built me a REALLY high loft bed (our rooms had high ceilings) and I had a rolling ladder from an old shoe store to get to it.
Haha, that so sounds like me too Melissa! You should see my house since we moved in this past Fall. And even more of a stumbling block for me is that it's a rental. So I just can't get my head wrapped around – will we be here for just another year, or will we be in this house for like 5 years? Ugh!
oh yeah I cripple MYSELF all the time. I get it in my mind I need to do something then I think, first I have to do this, and that, oh AND that. Then I decide oh my goodness which one do I need to do first and then I just put it off because it's just too stressful. Wasn't THIS bad until DH retired and since he's here 24-7 now it's even harder to get anything done.
What a great use of a pretty towel bar! I didn't do anything with my closet this week. It is about a foot and a half wide. If I followed Tsh's steps for clearing out the closet, I literally would only be left with the 10 or so things I actually wear ;-) I guess I probably should do that anyway.
But awhile ago, after being annoyed with my belts and at home sweaters being all over the floor all the time, I added some hooks to my closet too. WE had a little 3-hood thing that we had no use for, so I put it up in my closet. It's the best thing I've ever done in there!
Glad to hear I am not alone – the perfection paralysis is my downfall. I also feel like a need a vision before I start or at least a written plan. Thanks to today's blog and all the comments, I am going to try to do at least one part of the closet this week/weekend. I know know I don't have to spend the entire day in my closet trying on clothing I know doesn't fit!!! Maybe I can start with tee-shirts and jewelry and move on to jeans after I get the initial rush from doing the easy things first.
I love your organizational skills. Thanks for sharing, now I have some ideas!!
Yes, unfortunately I am an all or nothing gal. It's a curse. But I am working on it with the 40 days 40 bags project. Two days in and two closets are cleaned and organized!
Your closet looks great! I have all my scarfs rolled and in a basket.
On another note, you posted this yesterday but it just showed up in my email.
I do the same too, Melissa. Over-complicate things because I have a grandiose idea of how the whole project should look. When in fact a small change like hanging a beautiful rod to hold scarves is satisfying. Precious little time involved and no money spent! Love it!
Thanks for your tips and ideas….
Love it! I just cleaned out my closet yesterday and five big garbage bags full of clothes are on their way to a homeless shelter. Yippee! It feels so good. Love that you used your towel bar for scarves. Great idea!
Our master bedroom closet always seems so small to me. But I finally figured out the problem last week – laundry tends to make its way onto the closet floor instead of in the basket. I finally picked up a big pile (which appeared to be sorted for washing, but never got down to the washing machine) and shoved it into it's proper place. Suddenly we had so much floor space! Amazing what a difference something as simple as putting things where they belong can make!
Thanks for the reminder. We did a reno a couple of weeks ago and didn't finsih the closet, must get on that.
Found your blog through the links on Project Simplify – I did the same thing with a rod I had laying around! My scarves and belts always ended up all over the closet. I had previously tried using a hanger to keep them off the floor and shelf, but it was even worse than just letting them be. I was so excited when I had the idea of putting the rod in my closet and using it for the scarves and belts – great minds think alike!
I did the challenge, and my scarves and belts were my biggest problem. I love your solution! It's so simple, and I never would have thought of it!
I hear you! My problem is starting and being all excited, then waning out and letting the project fizzle out as I move on to something else. (Very bad habit). I did what you suggested and just tackled one thing in the closet, which was putting clothes I'm not going to wear again into a bag for Goodwill. But, I was so excited about doing it that I forgot to take a photo! Next week.
Oh! the SAME thing holds me back. I think I need to do it ALL and I struggle with lowering my expectations. alas.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels like I can't do something until have the time/money to do it all in one shot. It's a constant inner struggle for me! However, I was pretty impulsive over the weekend and decided to tackle updating my kitchen without having all the time to take to do it. It's going to be a longer process than I would ideally want BUT I'm feeling so much better that I have finally started it after months of waiting!
What a great solution for scarves and belts, Melissa! This post puts me into Spring Cleaning mode. I love this time of year!
This has been a simplifying week for me too Melissa! So far I've completely cleaned out our storage room and now have 2 extra walls to hang shelving on (woot!) and today I completely cleaned out my boys' room (even down to every single basket of toys.) I'm so proud of myself!
I wish I had a closet like the top photo too,sigh!
It looks great Melissa!! I always feel so much happier when things are organized and I can find things.
I'm an all of nothing girl!
I can get bogged down in the minutia. And, get so distracted with the size of color of boxes or colors, shelving or anything else.
But, yeah, if I break things down into small projects – it's manageable.
I'm so excited with the Simple Mom series. And, I can't wait to follow more of your push through to a simpler life. I'm doing it, too.
I am 100% an all or nothing girl – and I realized I needed to get over that since having my son;I was only getting the daily basics accomplished. It is definitely a matter of setting small goals and sometimes waiting on something like the dishes in order to begin a larger project.
My closet was a mess. We had new floors put in and I had to empty the floor so I straightened the rest of it. I am so enjoying just looking at the clean floor and straightened clothes. Rather expensive closet redo but the rest of the house looks great (at least the floors do).
My problem isn't coming up with ideas for how I want things. Or even the time to make them happen. But that one project relies on another one being done first. And there's one that has to be done before *that* project can be done. Etc, etc. And of course, the first project that *must* be tackled, is always one I need someone else's help for…or money I don't have. If I can't get the help, or the money has to go to something else, the projects sit. And wait. But the closet is something I can do (and I know it won't take long, its just a matter of getting around to it–I spend so little time in my bedroom during the day, I don't even think about it most of the time). Hopefully, I will clear out plenty of space tomorrow!
melissa, thank you for including me in your post :) i hope i was able to help some of the perfectionistas tackle their clothes closet ;).
Melissa – I am so much like you — wanting to wait until I have it "just right" kind of thing – the paint, the plan, etc. I love how just decided to tackle ONE project and it didn't need to be perfect. Your entire post was fantastic – thank you for the inspiration!
Excellent idea! This reminds me that I have a spare rod in my back room that's not being used. I wonder if I can do something useful with it? Hmmm….